Woman launches mobile showers for the homeless

Sunday, June 22, 2014 - 01:11

A San Francisco woman creates a ''shower bus'' to help accommodate the city's 3,500 homeless people. Vanessa Johnston reports.

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After two years, Doniece Sandoval's dream has become a reality.
A "shower bus" for the homeless.
She calls it Lava Mae.
SOUNDBITE (English) FOUNDER OF LAVA MAE, DONIECE SANDOVAL, SAYING:
"It's been in the idea stage for so long, to actually see the result is incredible."
San Francisco has some 3,500 homeless people, but only seven shower facilities for them to use.
SOUNDBITE (English) HOMELESS WOMAN, CRYSTAL HART, SAYING:
"It will help a whole lot of people."
Crystal Hart is homeless.
At one of her lowest points, she went two weeks without showering.
She says it felt great when she finally had the opportunity.
SOUNDBITE (English) HOMELESS WOMAN, CRYSTAL HART, SAYING:
"It helped me a lot because it got my mind back open to this isn't what you want to do. This isn't how you want to be. You do have the resources to help yourself, so try to use them."
Sandoval hopes to convert more buses into bathrooms for the homeless -- including in other cities.
But it isn't cheap.
This bus cost around 75,000 dollars to remodel.
SOUNDBITE (English) FOUNDER OF LAVA MAE, DONIECE SANDOVAL, SAYING:
"With hygiene comes dignity, and with dignity comes opportunity. so hopefully, it will open other doors for people."
The Lava Mae will make its grand debut next week.

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